WEBVTT E SPACE, ANDNOTIFY YOU IF YOU ARE IN THEPATH OF A WILDFIRE, WHICH COULDHELP YOU REACT SOONER.>> WE HAVE TO BE DILIGENT.WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THEPOSSIBILITIES AGAIN.DANA: POSSIBILITIES OF A GRASSFIRE, LIKE THE ONE THIS FAIROAKS NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCED.TWO YEARS AGO, FLAMES CAMEDANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO HOMES ONBLUFF LANE.>> I GOT A PHONE CALL THAT THEREWAS A FIRE COMING UP THE BLUFFSTO MY CONDO, AND OF COURSE IFREAKED.DANA: KATHY PETERSEN WAS INMONTEREY CELEBRATING HERBIRTHDAY WHEN THE FIRE STARTED.THOUGH FAR AWAY, SHE WANTED TOKNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING BACKHOME.>> THAT WAS FRIGHTENING, FORSURE.>> WILD FIRE IS COMING.IS YOUR HOME READY?DANA: CAL FIRE IS MAKING ITEASIER FOR YOU TO BE AWARE.>> EVERYBODY HAS A PHONE, SO WHYNOT GET THEM THE INFORMATIONTHAT THEY NEED?ESPECIALLY WITH THIS WILDFIRESEASON THAT'S COMING UP.DANA: THEIR NEW FIRE APP WILLNOTIFY YOU IF YOUR HOME ISWITHIN 30 MILES OF A WILDFIRELARGER THAN 10 ACRES.>> SO, IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TOREACT IF NEED BE.DANA: CAL FIRE EXPECTS A BUSYSEASON.18,000 ACRES HAVE ALREADY BURNEDTHROUGHOUT THE STATE, ABOUTTHREE TIMES THE AMOUNT THIS TIMELAST YEAR.>> DON'T BECOME COMPLACENAGAIN, 18,000 ACRES OF WILD LANDFIRES ALREADY IN THE STATE OFCALIFORNIA.YOU JUST NEED TO BE AWARE OFYOUR SURROUNDINGS AND BE ABLE TOREACT ACCORDINGLY.DANA: AND THINK ABOUTDOWNLOADING THIS TOOL THAT COULDPROVIDE LIFE SAVING INFORMATIONAND PEACE OF MIND.>> THAT MAKES ME FEEL MORESECURE, SURE.BECAUSE OTHERWISE, I WOULD NOTHAVE KNOWN IF I HADN'T GOTTENTHAT PHONE CALL.DANA: THIS APP ALSO SHOWS YOUEVERY AISLE -- EVERY FIREBURNING IN CALIFORNIA.IT'S FREE.JUST TYPE IN "CAL FIRE" IN YOURAPP STORE.DANA GRIFFIN, KCRA 3 NEWS.BRIAN: IS CAL FIRE GETTING AGOOD RESPONSE TO THE APP?DANA: THEY SAY THEY ARE.SO FAR, THEY'VE HAD 25,000PEOPLE DOWNLOAD IT.AND FOR DOWNLOADING THE APP,SOME HAVE ENTERED A $10,000DOLLAR SWEEPSTAKES.THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED

It's the time of season when tall, dry grass becomes potential fuel for grass fires. Before the next one sparks, a new app could help Californians react sooner.

Cal Fire launched an app to notify residents if their homes are within 30 miles of a wildfire larger than 10 acres.

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The app has tools for getting fire-ready like creating defensible space. It also provides a map and information on every wildfire burning in the state.

Cal Fire expects a busy season. So far, 18,000 acres have burned throughout the state. That's about three times more than this time last year.

"Don't become complacent. Again, 18,000 of wild land fires already in the state of California," Cal Fire spokesperson Scott McLean said. "You just need to be aware of your surroundings and be able to react accordingly."

The free app can be found in the iTunes App Store or the Google Play Store by searching "Cal Fire."